DMK not opposed to spectrum JPC: Karunanidhi

DMK chief M Karunanidhi said on Friday that his party had never been opposed to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into alleged irregularities in allotting 2G-spectrum by ousted telecom minister A Raja, but had only said the CAG reports were, as per practice, looked into by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

“We have never opposed the JPC and will accept any decision the central government takes on the demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe,” said Karunanidhi, who is also Tamil Nadu chief minister, in a statement issued here on Friday.

The BJP has been at the forefront among opposition parties in asking for a JPC probe.

The statement came after AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa questioned why the DMK was “scared” of a JPC probe, especially after Raja had denied all allegations of wrongdoing in the case.

The party has also distanced itself from the letter Dayanidhi Maran wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as telecom minister (before Raja), seeking modifications in the terms of reference of the group of ministers that was to go into 2G spectrum allotments.

Lok Sabha member and DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said that the letter was a piece of privileged communication between a minister and the Prime Minister and the party had nothing to do with it.

He also denied that the party interfered in the functioning of ministers and their ministries.

The DMK chief alleged that Jayalalitha had misinterpreted the remarks made regarding the JPC probe with the aim of creating a wedge between the DMK and the Congress.

"Her efforts will not succeed as we have full confidence in Congress and that party has full confidence on us," he said.